Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillors Wanda King and Brenda Quinney.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

No declarations of interest were made. 

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 15^th January 2014.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 15^th January 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To formally note that the Planning Committee meeting due to take place on  Wednesday 7^th May 2014 has been rescheduled to take place on Wednesday 14^th May 2014.

The Committee formally noted that the Planning Committee meeting originally scheduled for the 7^th May 2014 had been re-scheduled to take place on Wednesday 14^th May 2014.

To note Update Reports (if any) for the Planning Applications to be considered at the meeting (circulated prior to the commencement of the meeting).

The Update Reports relating to the Application to be considered were received and noted.

To consider a Change of Use of ground, basement and sub-basement to Class A3 (Café / Restaurant) and A5 (Hot Food Take-away) use.

Applicant:  Mr Matthew Rhodes

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Change of Use of ground, basement and

sub-basement to Class 3A (Café / Restaurant)

and A5 (hot Food Take-away) use.

Applicant:  Mr Matthew Rhodes

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, Planning Permission be GRANTED, subject to the Conditions set out in the report.

To consider a Change of Use to private recreational use including golf practice facility comprising construction of one golf green, two golf tees, water pump housing (retrospective) and tractor shed.

Applicant:  Mr Mark Rolph

(Report attached – Site Plan under separate cover)

Change of Use to private recreational use,

including golf practice facility comprising

construction of one golf green, two golf tees,

water pump housing (retrospective) and

tractor shed

Applicant:  Mr Mark Rolph

The following people addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules:

Mrs B Morris – objector

Mr  J Walker – objector

Mr S Vick – Applicant’s Agent

RESOLVED that

Having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, Planning Permission be GRANTED, subject to the Conditions and Informative set out in the main report, subject to:

1)            Condition 2 being amended to read as follows:

“2.       The use of the private golf practice facility hereby permitted shall be limited to occupiers and guests thereof of Tookeys Farm House, and the occupiers shall always be in residence when the facility is in use.  The facility shall not be used by more than 6 adults and 4 children under 16 at any time and shall not be used for any commercial purposes or financial gain at any time.

            Reason:        In the interests of surrounding residential amenity and to prevent the over-intensification of the use of the site, in accordance with Policies B(RA)1 and B(BE)13 of the Borough of Redditch Local Plan No.3. “; and

2)            The following additional informatives:

“2)       In considering this application, members of the Planning Committee were keen to stress that ONLY private use and NOT commercial use of the recreational facility would be acceptable on this site as commercial uses would bring more considerations into play that was not covered in the application submission.

 3)        In considering this application, members of the Planning Committee were keen to  point  out  that the Council  planning  Enforcement  Officers  would  work  with the applicant to ensure that the conditions set out above are adhered to.

(Officers reported on data the Applicant had received from the County Biological Records Data Centre that had confirmed there were no records of significant species or habitats on or in close proximity to the application site.  The Committee was advised that, further to this data being provided, the Wildlife Trust had confirmed that they had no objections to the proposal.  Comments from the County Archaeologist, were also reported.   A number of additional points raised by objectors were also noted.  Members also noted and agreed an amendment proposed to Condition 2 in the report in regard to restricting the use of the site to prevent any commercial use, as  detailed in Resolution 1 above.  The Committee further considered a Member’s request  for additional informatives to be included in relation to specified use and enforcement of Conditions, as detailed in Resolution 2 above.

The two Update reports relating to this applicant were provided for Committee Members and the public gallery prior to commencement of the meeting.

Officers clarified that the proposed development accorded with relevant Policies and that all relevant Consultees had been consulted in relation to the application.) 

To consider a Planning Application for the conversion of Office building to 9 no. apartments.

Applicants:  Paul Marson / Martyn Harfield

(Report attached, Site Plan under separate cover)

Conversion of office building to 9 no. apartments.

Applicants:  Mr Paul Mason and Mr Martyn Harfield

The Applicant, Mr Martyn Harfield, addressed the Committee under the Council’s public speaking rules.

RESOLVE that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, authority be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration to GRANT Planning Permission, subject to:

1)            The satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Planning Obligation to ensure that:

a)    Contributions be paid to the Borough Council in respect of off-site open space and playing pitches in accordance with the Council’s adopted SPD;

b)   A financial contribution be paid to the Borough Council towards the provision of wheelie bins for the new development; and

2)            the Conditions set out in the main report.

To consider a Change of Use of redundant former toilet block to form extension to Units 1 and 2 for use as a reception area and community hub to existing boxing club.

Applicant:  Mrs Sarah Lee, Redditch Community Amateur Boxing Club

(Report attached – site Plan under separate cover)

Change of use of redundant former toilet block

to form extension to Units 1 and 2 for use

as a reception area and community hub to

existing boxing club

Applicant:  Ms Sarah Lee, Redditch Community Amateur Boxing Club

RESOLVED that

having regard to the Development Plan and to all other material considerations, Planning Permission be GRANTED, subject to the Conditions and Informative set out in the report.

To consider an Enforcement Report relating to a breach of planning control in respect of a failure to comply with the requirements of an Enforcement Notice.

(Report attached – Confidential Site Plan under separate cover )

(The Appendix to the report and relevant Site Plan are confidential in view of the fact that they contain confidential information relating to individuals’ identities which could result in legal action being taken by the Council and has therefore only be made available to Members and relevant Officers).

The Committee considered a report relating to non-compliance of an Enforcement Notice in regard to an unauthorised use of land in Feckenham. 

RESOLVED that

in relation to a breach of Planning Control, namely the failure to comply with the requirements of an Enforcement Notice, authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services, to instigate legal proceedings in the Magistrates Courts, if necessary.